Americans Not Maximizing Smartphones

While smartphones can perform a plethora of functions, according to a recent Harris Poll survey, very few smartphone owners are actually taking advantage of the time- and paper-saving potential of their devices.

Today’s smartphones can store information to make our lives more efficient – information that can be scanned to make a purchase, or displayed as a ticket for admission, allowing us freedom from printed confirmations and bulky wallets. However, when asked about a list of items that one could scan their mobile or smartphone for, only small minorities report having done so in each case.

According to the survey, only 5 percent of Americans say they have scanned their phone for admission to a movie or as an airline ticket, and fewer say they have done so to pay for clothing or electronics (3 percent), admission to a concert, live theater or performance (3 percent), to pay for a convenience item such as coffee (3 percent) or something else (7 percent). Two in five say they have never scanned their mobile or smartphone for any reason (40 percent) and slightly more say they do not have a mobile or smartphone with this capability (45 percent). Although Echo Boomers, aged 18-35, are most likely to have scanned their phone for all of the items listed, even they are not doing this at remarkable rates (between 5 percent and 10 percent for each item).

While few may be actively engaging with these functions, there is also a divide on the levels of comfort associated with these behaviors as well. Just under half of Americans (47 percent) say they are comfortable using a mobile scan as an admission ticket to movies, concerts or live theater performances, while 38 percent are not comfortable with it — with 25 percent not at all comfortable; 15 percent are not sure. About the same number of people are comfortable (41 percent) and not comfortable (43 percent) using a mobile scan as an airline, train or other transportation ticket; 15 percent are again, not sure.

Slightly fewer are comfortable using a mobile app that would allow them to make purchases at a retailer or company as they would with a gift card (39 percent) while 47 percent are not comfortable with this and 14 percent are not sure. The only item where a majority opinion is seen, is with using a mobile app that would store credit card information, allowing people to make purchases at a retailer or company as they would with a credit card; 63 percent are not comfortable with this with over two in five (45 percent) not at all comfortable. Only one quarter (24 percent) of Americans are comfortable with this, and 13 percent are not sure.

Looking at those who are comfortable with the various items, several noticeable trends emerge:

There is comfort in youth – younger adults are more comfortable than those older with each item listed.

Men are more comfortable with each item than are women.

Those who have scanned their smartphone for any one of a number of reasons are more comfortable with each capability than are those who have never scanned their phone, or do not have a phone with that technology.

According to Harris, the study implicates that, at the moment, technology capabilities are outpacing changing behavior—there are many new functions available that most people either haven’t tried or admit to being uncomfortable with. While people like having the latest in technology, based on the wait lists and lines for newly released products, beyond early adopters, many people don’t take advantage of the new functions available to them.